Thompson is replacing her finest issues with lower-graded examples so that she may enjoy the collection without worrying about their value

The collection is among the finest ever assembled, with the pair known as the "George and Martha Washington of comics fandom". Don passed away in 1994, but Maggie has continued to collect, with 1,700 comics now consigned to Heritage.

The couple began their comic career in 1961, publishing one of the earliest fanzines, Comic Art. In 1967, they began another magazine known as Newfangles, which focused on comic fans rather than news. The Thompsons were then hired as co-editors on Comic Buyer's Guide, continuing to write for the magazine until Don's health began to decline.

Unlike most collectors, Maggie Thompson is now parting with some of the finest issues of the collection in order to replace them with lower-graded examples, mainly due to the costs and risks involved with owning the highest-valued example.

"My collecting began so that I could have what I want when I want it," she explained. "Given that we are only temporary custodians of what we own, we should take the best possible care of our treasures - and then pass them on.

"The goal is to replace them with comics in rotten shape: copies that are so beat-up as to be the cubic zirconia to the disposed-of diamonds."

Starring from the collection is a CGC NM 9.4-graded example of The Avengers #1, which is one of the finest known examples and is estimated at more than $80,000.

Also included is Journey Into Mystery #83 (the comic that introduces Thor), which is also valued at $80,000+, while The Incredible Hulk #1 holds a value of $55,000+, having been graded CGC VF+ 8.5.